First Day on the Job
Characters: Mason Collins, Cameron Sullivan, Sebastian Cole, Ashtyn and Kiera Miller
Date: June 2014
Location: Crawford University Hospital
Notes: Mason has his first day as the new trauma nurse.
Mason made his way to the administrative side of the hospital where all the higher ups were located. He walked past several offices on the way towards the Director of Nursing office. He was dressed professionally in a black button up, a blue tie, and a pair of grey trousers. He found the office which was open. "Hi I'm looking for Cameron Sullivan?" He questioned not wanting to get barked at for invading the office on his first day. He had already stopped by HR and got everything filled out there and in pay-roll and the Crawford badge was dangling from his tie.
Cameron looked up from the computer noticing what he assumed was Mason Collins. "You must be Mason, come on in." He said pointing to the empty seat across from him. "So obviously it's your first day I'm not going to throw you to the sharks." He grabbed the file in front of him. "Let's see you have ICU experience and have worked as a flight nurse for a couple of years after working at a level one trauma center in Chicago before that. Obviously that Dr. Cole's department and I'm not going to lie both he and Dr. Miller has an impressive nursing turnover rate.
Mason looked at director like no matter what he would be thrown to a shark. "So let me get this straight the doctor I'll be under is a major douche?" He asked figuring maybe Chicago wasn't so bad after all.
Cameron shook his head. "Well he's kind of an ass, but he is also the chief of surgery, so I can't really say anything bad about him. He's a bit hard on nurses and can kind of come off as you put it a douche, but he's great to the patients and I don't think I've ever heard a patient or another doctor speak bad about him. He just really can't stand lazy nurses. Dr. Miller is the same way, granted she is really hard on the nurses. I've honestly seen her make grown woman cry.
Mason looked stunned and like he wanted to run out of the office in terror. "What's her specialty?" He questioned of our deep curiosity if she was making full grown woman cry then there was a problem. "At least the patients don't hate them, however I'm not sure having a nursing department that hates there attending is any better."
Cameron laughed softly. "Dr. Miller's a neurosurgeon if that tells you anything. I don't have a lot of problems with the nurses in other departments it's always trauma and neuro. Granted both are nice outside of the hospital, or so I've heard. I can't really do anything about the nursing abuse besides hire more nurses hoping they actually get along with a nurse I hire. I honestly don't know how many times I have been asked to sub for a nurse who's quit at the last moment and I can't replace them."
Mason was stunned that one department could cause that much trouble. "Can't you replace her?" He questioned figuring that would cause less of a problem than just tossing another nurse at the problem.
Cameron looked down at the keyboard. "Do you have an idea how hard it is to find a neurosurgeon let alone a female neurosurgeon? There are less than 300 female neurosurgeon, besides having worked with her in an operating room she's actually not that hard to please. In fact I haven't had any problems with her since I replaced a couple of nurses and she has that resident. I think once Dr. Cole meets you I won't have any trouble out of him either. Either that or you might want to get some different qualifications might I suggest obstetrics? I never have a problem with that department and Jessica the main nurse is adorable, even if I do frown upon the relationship between her and Elijah since they work in the same department. I'm not a relationship counselor if you want to date in hospital please try and keep it out of the trauma department. I know several in hospital relationships I mean it's bound to happen. Just please don't hook up with anyone in the trauma department. I went to nursing school for a reason if I wanted to be a relationship counselor I would have studied psychology."
Mason laughed at Cameron lecture of not dating someone in his department. "I'm gay so you don't have to worry about me hooking up with the female nurses I work with. I'll will however keep my dating out of the emergency department." He teased the director.
Cameron looked at the man across from him. "You're gay?" He asked questionably he too played for that team so it was just he wasn't expecting the hot nurse across from him to be gay too.
Mason laughed softly to himself. "Is that a problem? Yeah I know with me the stereotype is true I'm a male nurse that's gay."
Cameron nodded his head in agreement. "I too am gay, so I don't have a problem with it at all. Besides Dr. Cole is pansexual so you don't have to worry about a bigot breathing down your neck. "Trust me homophobia isn't really a problem with the medical personnel around here. Now why don't we get coffee, and I'll show you around." He suggested. "But first here is everything you need to know, like the handbook, a long list of protocols." He said handing the nurse a stack of books and papers. "You'll find the list of attending numbers in every nurse’s station across the hospital; however most of us keep the attending most frequently called in a list on the phone since this is the day and age of smartphones. Granted you’re a trauma nurse so you might want to just save every attending to the phone." He joked leading the new nurse away from the administrative wing.
Mason adjusted his shirt as he stood up he smiled slightly when Cameron mentioned he was gay. "I never say no to coffee." "At least we don't have to memorize phone numbers, my mother was a nurse back when they were all female and wore white dresses, and they had to memorize everything. She thinks nurses today have it so easy." He teased his mother was a sweetheart but kind of stuck on the way she was taught nursing, even though she was a professor at a university, granted she did teach nursing history.
Cameron laughed softly and walked out of the administrative wing of the first floor of the hospital. He tried to avoid using his office unless he had a meeting or something, he preferred to actually be what he was trained to be which was a nurse. If he wanted to be a business person he would have went to business school. "Let me guess your mother was a nurse back in the dress and cap days?"
Mason smiled and looked at the director. "She was a nurse in the early eighties, mother hates scrubs I guess it's a good thing she teaches and only does work PRN. So what about your family, any family of nurses?” He questioned curious about the young director. “Where’d you go to school?”
Cameron laughed softly at the thought of Mason’s mother’s lecture over the dress vs scrub debate. “I don’t think either of us could pull of a dress.” He teased leading Mason to the small Starbucks next to the gift shop which was open twenty-four hours for those who needed a coffee fix at three am. “I grew up in Atlanta, you can kind of still here a small southern accent on some of my words. I got both the BSN and MSN from Emory, I stayed close to home for some reason. Actually no one in my family is a nurse. I assume you avoided the school your mother teaches at like a plague?”
Mason could tell that the director had a small hint of a southern accent, it wasn’t super thick, but it was a tiny bit noticeable. “Good I would hate to not have my Starbucks fix late at night.” He had a coffee addiction which had existed since nursing school. “Of course I did, she teaches the community college and I went to the University of Illinois in Chicago so I didn’t have to worry about her breathing down my neck, or sit through her boring nursing history class or another class she teaches.” He said honestly, he loved his mother, but he did not want her as a professor.
Cameron remembered that class and how it seemed to glorify women in the field and not so much the long line of male history that nursing had too. “I hated that class, it seemed like there was not enough coffee to make that class pleasant. I don’t blame you I wouldn’t want to be in the same college my mother worked at.” He said looking at the barista, “You’re usual?” She asked looking at the nurse. He nodded this was the only place he liked the coffee in the hospital the one in the cafeteria was like mud.
Mason remembered the place he got coffee at in nursing school knew his order by heart too. “I’ll have a vanilla latte.” He told the barista he said fishing his wallet out of his pocket and paying the young barista. “At least you can always trust Starbucks.” He teased some coffee just wasn't fit to drink.
Cameron nodded there was nothing worse in his mind than lazy nurses and terrible coffee. “That is true there is nothing worse than terrible coffee. I’m pretty sure everyone on staff can agree. So how about I finish showing you around?” He suggested taking a sip of his coffee.
Mason sipped is latte and nodded. “So dumb question but you're what thirty? How are you a director of nursing, most of the ones I've previously worked for have all been middle-aged your still in your prime; so what makes a guy hang up the stethoscope for an administrative job?" He asked out of curiosity.
Cameron took another gulp of coffee and looked at the nurse. "I'm a thirty and I was here back when the director of nursing was a 50 something lady who was much to easy on the nursing staff. I'm not Hitler, but I do at least know how to manage a good nursing staff. I don't want really possessed me to apply for the job, I was working as a cardiac nurse at the time. I really loved the attend I worked with. I guess I just wanted a change, but I have in no way hung up the stethoscope trust me I'm the first one ready to help if a department is short staffed. "Now obviously most of basic stuff is on the first floor like the ED, gift shops, admin wing, HR, payroll, radiology, surgery. Below us in the morgue, records, housekeeping, and anything that isn't super important that likes the basement. "The ED actually has a CT so you don't have to drag someone who is in critical condition across the hospital. Out-patient surgery is also on the first floor, but most of the surgery you'll be seeing is emergency. I don't have a your file on me, but don't you have your scrub nurse certification too?" He asked thinking he read that in Mason's chart.
Mason followed along to what Cameron was saying about what was on this floor and the basement since the first floor would probably be where he spent most of days. "I do have my scrub nurse certification." He needed it since trauma is primarily surgical. So you were a cardiac nurse?" He asked following Cameron into the elevator. "So what's on the second floor?"
Cameron yawned softly while finishing his coffee hoping that he felt less tired. "Yes cardio I was the charge nurse for about a year before I became the director." He said he was in pediatrics before cardio. He was kind of a jack-of-all-traits kind of nurse, he kind of had to be with his position. "On this floor you have the cafeteria, the basic ICU which has I believe ten beds. We also have the cardio department consisting of all the telemetry rooms, CTICU, catch labs, and several just basic hospital rooms in the north wing, cardio is south, the cafeteria is the west, and the ICU is the east wing. Trust me once you get used to here it's a easy layout."
Mason nodded as Cameron showed him through each of the wings he did notice that everything seemed newer and modern, compared to the former hospital he worked at. "How's the food?" He questioned knowing in some hospitals the food was unfit to eat, he was wondering if he would need to fix his own meals or if he could trust it. "So was the cardio doctor a piece of work like the two you told me about earlier?" He questioned if all the doctors hated the nursing staff.
Cameron laughed at the food question. "I see you too had the experience of terrible hospital food. The food here is great there is always sushi, and pasta, and the salad bar doesn't taste of wilted lettuce. The president is pretty good about taking care of the staff. "No Dr. Jake Ross is a sweetheart he never yelled at nurses his fiancé is a pretty sweet lady with the nurses too. The other two aren't terrible to me or the nurses who actually know how to place an IV or know a different between clamps.
Mason looked at Cameron trying to place that name, he knew the name sounded familiar. "Thank God, the last place I worked for nobody went near that cafeteria if they didn't want to spend the rest of the day near the bathroom with a barf bag in hand. There was a joke that we didn't tell new hires about the terribleness of the cafeteria. I learned the hard way that you'd didn't go near that place." He said remembering the days of Chicago Memorial well. "Wait didn't he work at train at the Cleveland Clinic. I swear I've heard that name before."
Cameron could only imagine what new hires went through. "Yes Cleveland Clinic trained I think he was also published in several medical journals. I think all the doctors on staff have all been published at one time or another. I think Dr. Miller has actually written books."
Ashtyn was coming out of the cafeteria dressed for office hours and looked heavenly pregnant. "I have written books, you must be new." She teased looking at the blonde. "Dr. Ashtyn Miller, you'll find me in Neurosurgery. Cameron thank you for my new nurse she's not stupid. I still have one that is only good for Taco Bell runs for when the twins are hungry." She teased nibbling at the bagel in her hand.
Mason looked at the pretty blonde finding it hard to believe that she was terrible let alone a doctor. "I'm the new trauma nurse, Mason Collins. So how far along are you?" He asked merely curious, most of the neurosurgeons he had worked for didn't really have families they were married to the job.
Cameron looked at the neurosurgeon in heels. "Never can stay away from the heels?" He teased. "Let me guess they one used for Taco Bell runs in Tiff? I promise she'll be out of your department, but Sebastian's nursing staff is in worse shape than your's. Tell you what I'll move Tiffany to psych and have Morgan fill in for her while she deals with psych?" He suggested finding the blonde neurosurgeon to be in a reasonable mood.
Ashtyn smiled at the new nurse. "Welcome to Crawford." She wasn't technically a bitch to anyone it was just nurses who pissed her off. "I'm 22 weeks, and I'm really for them to be out. So Mason where are you from?" She asked having a sip of the flavored water she was drinking since the guys had cut caffeine out of her life at this point of her pregnancy. "Don't believe a thing Cameron tells you, I'm not nearly as bad as he says. I just don't like my infection rate going up because a stupid nurse forgot to wash her hands before changing the bandages. It could have also been the pregnancy hormones. Everyone else seems to like me, just not the nurses on my department. My resident doesn't hate me." She clarified knowing she had somewhat of a reputation.
Mason laughed finding the neurosurgeon to not be what he thought. "I see someone decided to take away the caffeine, it could also be a caffeine withdraw. I'd be mad if a nurse forgot to wash their hands too, that's just not proper technique. I figure he's overexerting your terror." He teased winking at his boss. "I'm from Chicago, figured Cali would be a decent chance of scenery, it'll be nice not needing snow gear."
Cameron wondering why Ashtyn was actually being nice to a nurse, but Mason wasn't going to her department. "I think she knows all about that snow gear she's from New York." He teased the attending knowing the two of them were on good terms with the three new nurses he had put in her department and with the removal of Tiffany all her nurses she kind of got along with."
Ashtyn shuttered remembering the cold of New York in the dead of winter. "They removed the caffeine last appointment. It probably doesn't help that I'm dating an ob/gyn. I can't get away with anything, it also doesn't help that my daughter works at Starbucks so she smells coffee on me like a bloodhound." She teased feeling her pager buzz. "I have to go, it was nice meeting you. Have a good first day." She said walking away from the two nurses finding Mason to remind her of Jessica and Cameron. Who knows now maybe Sebastian would finally be happy with his nursing staff. She was trying to not be such a bitch to her nurses it was just impossible when they did something stupid, it was like they were begging to be yelled at.
Mason looked at Cameron. "So who is she married to?" He questioned being nosy. "Wait my mother mentioned a book written by a neurosurgeon about what is was like raising a child in medical school and residency and what a intense surgical residency is for ladies. Is that the same Ashtyn Miller? If so holy crap how do you get pregnant at sixteen and then go on to being one of the most successful Neurosurgeon's?" He questioned he could hardly deal with nursing school while living at home most of the time. He couldn't imagine being a single mother and juggling undergrad with a newborn, or medical school with a toddler.
Cameron laughed most people found Ashtyn's story interesting. "She has a sixteen year old daughter, Kiera, she works downstairs in the Starbucks after cheer practice. She's one of those competitive cheerleaders the team she's on a has won World's like four times on the team she's on. I don't see how people bend like that. I played football growing up and I don't bend like that." He teased wondering how a doctor could just stand on the sidelines and watch her daughter risk getting seriously injured. "I don't know how she did I couldn't do college with a baby or a toddler." He wouldn't be able to do medical school with a child. "Oh Ashtyn's dating Brandon, he's an ob/gyn. If you see hulk in a pair of scrubs you'll have found him." He teased the nurse. "He'll occasionally help in the ER since he is a general surgeon too."
Mason winced his sister had always wanted to join a team like that. "My little sister begged my mother to let her try out for a team like that, there just wasn't any in Chicago and she was sixteen at the time and had no previous experience. I played soccer and lacrosse in high school. "All that I do is see the risk of sports and not the fact that they are actually helpful. I'm afraid that if I ever have kids that I'll need to wrap them in bubble wrap and they wouldn't be leaving the house without a microchip embedded in their phone. I'd be one of those super overprotective parents." He said being honest looking at Cameron when he said he looked like a hulk in scrubs. "Since when does the Hulk have a medical degree?" He teased trying to picture that.
Cameron laughed since becoming a nurse he saw the danger of sports and everything else, so the bubble wrapping of his child was a good idea. That was if he ever decided he wanted kids since the only option was either getting super drunk and sleeping with a woman or going through the whole adoption process. "I think it's the nursing degree speaking we tend to worry over every little thing. "So lacrosse isn't that similar to soccer?" He teased not knowing much about lacrosse. He led the nurse through the second floor trying to point out the important locations he might need to know.
Mason followed Cameron back to the elevator trying to remember all the information that was being thrown at him, and after his shift he had to go back to his apartment and unpack which he wasn't looking forward too. He'd probably stop somewhere and grab and bottle of wine to make it at least not so tedious. "Lacrosse involves a stick soccer doesn't." He clarified their was more to both sports than just that.
Cameron hit the third floor button. "The third floor is all ob/gyn and the NICU is also on this floor, I'll show you around if you want, but I don't think you'll need this floor often, they get their own floor they are all antisocial in that regard." He joked actually everyone on that floor was easy to get along with. "Jessica who's a nurse on this floor is great if you want to here some great jokes, or a good drinking buddy if Dr. Cole is being a total tool." He pointed out to the nurse.
Mason shook his head he did not want the tour of the vagina floor. He made it through his clinical in labor and delivery and the whole reproductive unit, it just wasn't his favorite clinical. He liked trauma and the rush he got during trauma. "I think we can skip that. I think I might need to remember that she's the one you want to go for jokes and drinks." He wasn't a heavy drinker but he never could say no to wine. He tried taking a sip of his coffee only to find it empty.
Cameron felt the same way about ob/gyn sure he spent half a year on a labor and delivery floor but it wasn't his favorite floor to fill-in on. His dislike of it wasn't because of his sexuality he just didn't find it to be interesting. He nudged the forth floor button which opened to a huge mural of happy child things since the fourth floor was pediatrics which consisted of a PICU a huge playroom for the kiddies. A game room for the teenagers they also had a separate teen wing for all the difficult teenagers. "This floor is pediatrics in case you couldn't tell by the walls. There is also the teenage wing for all the teenagers who are still children but would rather be with people similar in age range. Again the floor is pediatrics only besides the adults who work on the floor."
Mason nodded listening to explain there was a separate wing for the teenagers. "That's probably better not a lot of seventeen year olds want to be in the same wing as people under thirteen. Why does everything look so new and modern. Most of the hospitals I have been in have kind of been not as modern?" He questioned it almost didn't seem like a hospital.
Cameron tossed his empty coffee cup noticing Mason do the same. "Everything was recently renovated a couple of years ago. They had like a huge grant to add more technology it has a lot of other advancements most hospitals don't. Also every bed is private no more sharing rooms and having to deal with two patients at once. We are the leading hospital in the nation for a reason." He winked showing Mason a short tour of the floor.
Mason could understand the whole grant making the hospital look more like a fancy upscale hotel and less of the traditional hospital everyone thought of. "As long as this hospital doesn't have that stupid telemedicine communication thing I've seen in some of the medical journals. That just seems more of a liability. It was the one thing he learned in nursing school that absolutely annoyed him to no end. One of his friends was a tech major and even they had issues with that. "New tech advancements and a newer update hospital is probably easier getting the big name doctors to come over. Not to mention the weather probably helps sway the decision." He said being able to see the beach from outside the window.
Cameron recoiled at the mention of telemedicine. "It might be good in small town hospitals; but like you said a cardiologist over Skype might see a heart attack and it could be nothing more than a panic attack, it the doctor working the ER agreed with the cardiologist and gave the wrong course of treatment then you have a mess. I know Dr. Cole had refused any offers on that from smaller hospitals. We are all for advancement, we just don't want our name tarnished or to be liable because we are 4,000 miles away from a patient. It might be good in like the military setting but it just annoys most of us." He said being honest. "Where was I?" He asked getting distracted by Mason's question of why everything looked so new. "Oh yeah so this is the pediatric floor." He said going back to the staff elevator. "Also red elevators are transport, maintenance is black, staff is blue, and public are green."
Mason saw that the elevators had colored trim around the metal doors, so at least know he knew the color coding system. "So what's on the next floor?" He questioned leaning against the bar in the elevator.
Cameron looked down at his phone seeing it was an important email that needed a reply. "Neuro also gets its own floor, there is also a room of touch screens it helps them see the small vesicles of the brain." He saw Ashtyn wave at them as she was coming out of a patient room. "The next four floors are just med/surg floors. The very top floor is the psych floor it's also has its own elevator. In total there are ten floors to this hospital. He looked at his watch seeing it was almost noon. "How about you and I get lunch and then I throw you to the sharks." He teased he wouldn't throw the new nurse directly to Sebastian he would probably shadow Mason and make sure he was working in Sebastian's department before cutting the leash.
Mason stomach decide to growl at that exact second the donut he ate this morning with his coffee obviously cutting it. "Sure let's get some lunch." He said wishing that invite was in another context since the director of nursing was exactly his type. Which those thoughts shouldn't have even existed in that context since Cameron was technically his boss.
Cameron led the nurse back to the second floor and into the cafeteria which was set up food court style. "I can personally recommend the salad bar, pasta bar, pizza, the wraps, or the sushi." He suggested heading over to the wrap station in the mood for a grilled chicken wrap seeing Mason follow. "I'll have the grilled chicken on a spinach wrap, with feta cheese, lettuce, and spinach and topped with light ranch." He said walking over and grabbing a water from the cooler. "Thank you." He said as she handed over his food and turned her attention to Mason.
Mason looked at the menu figuring out what he wanted to eat. "Could you please make me a grilled chicken veggie wrap." He said grabbing a bottled Starbucks drink from the cooler still needing caffeine. He payed for his lunch and went to join Cameron. "Do you ever wish caffeine was available in IV form?" He teased knowing caffeine directly into the blood stream would be fatal.
Cameron laughed having that exact thought in nursing school. "It's just not possible direct caffeine to the bloodstream just isn't smart. Wishful thinking by a healthcare workers, but not possible. Have you seen the article that healthcare workers consume the most coffee over any other career path?" He asked knowing that it was true he drank more coffee than he should.
Mason knew about the article his sister having texted the link being the usual smartass he was. He knew both him and mother couldn't go a day without the coffee it was about the only thing they could agree on as nurses. "I know for a fact I drink way to much coffee." He admitted it seemed like that was all he drank. "Why wouldn't we drink a bunch of coffee we are in charge of making sure people don't die."
Cameron took a bite of his wrap wondering if the cute nurse in front of him was single, for all he knew Mason could have had a football player back in Chicago and we're making it work long distance. He noticed the blonde had finished his lunch. "You remember where the nurses locker room was?" He asked still having half a wrap left.
Mason nodded tossing his trash in the nearby bin. "Yeah but my scrubs are out in my car as is everything else." He muttered grabbing his keys from his pocket and heading out of the cafeteria out to his car and grabbing his work bag. He found the nurses locker room easily enough and removed the belt from his pants sliding them off and replacing with scrub pants. He replaced his button down with a long sleeve shirt and the scrub top that matched the pants.
Cameron walked into the locker room after changing into his own scrubs. He preferred to wear scrubs unless he had a meeting with the board then it was a suit. He honestly hated the days he had to dress up, he wasn't the gay that knew a lot about fashion, he could coordinate a tie but that was about it. He was more of a jeans and tee shirt kind of guy outside of work.
Mason clipped the hospital ID to his top and slung his blue stethoscope around his neck. He tied his sneakers having a hatred of nursing clogs and crocs, which stemmed from nursing school clinicals. He adjusted the red scrubs and attached his pager to his hip.
Cameron smiled softly. "You ready to meet Dr. Cole?" He asked wondering if the nurse was ready for the attending from hell. He hoped Mason worked out in the trauma department he was quite sick of rearranging or finding other openings on other floors, or the nurses just running away in terror. He wasn't sure which attending was scary, he figured it was Sebastian since he was also chief of surgery and had plenty of control. Ashtyn was just a perfectionist who liked things a certain way.
Mason pulled down the sleeves on the shirt underneath his scrubs feeling a sudden chill. "Ready as I'll ever be." He muttered adjusting the stethoscope around his neck and shutting the locker that opened with badge. He was not looking forward to meeting Dr. Cole he didn't feel like being yelled at by an overzealous physician who hated nurses.
Cameron laughed and handed Mason another cup of coffee and held the door open, he pretty much felt the same anytime Sebastian or Ashtyn came into his office. "I'll stay with you today so if you want to transfer we can get that done today." He said honestly he also wanted to see if Sebastian was dealing with crappy nurses or his idea of crappy nurses. He also wanted to make sure Mason could handle the stress of a busy trauma department.
Mason smiled softly at the director as he sipped the coffee and followed the path to the Emergency Department. "Thank you for making sure Dr. Cole doesn't kill me." He teased noticing a busy clinic next to the emergency room.
Cameron saw what Mason was looking at. "It's easier staffing a small clinic than having the ED overrun with the flu which isn't serious same goes with stitches. It was one of the first things Sebastian changed as Chief of Surgery. "He got tired of dealing with flu and fishing random things out of random cavities." The closer they got to the ED the more they heard yelling.
Sebastian sighed looking at the nurse disapprovingly. "You say you’re a trauma nurse but what trauma nurse can't get an IV placed. I grow tired of dealing with mediocrity in my nursing staff. Will one of you stop shaking and go get the IV placed before I do it and tell Sullivan that you can't place an IV, hell I know a CNA that could probably get an IV in place." He rolled his eyes watching the girl shake. "I'll be getting coffee, be back in ten."
Mason eyes grew wide after hearing the yelling over an IV. "Let me guess that's Dr. Cole?" He questioned understanding why he was yelling an IV was a fundamental necessity as a nurse he was actually surprised someone made it passed nursing school without knowing an IV.
Cameron nodded approaching the attending before he went to lunch. "I'll deal with her, I want you to meet your new trauma nurse, Mason Collins." He said watching Sebastian smirk at the other nurse. He looked like a lion getting ready to attack a deer.
Sebastian smirked at the new male nurse looking at him like Christmas had come very early. "Shelly why don't we let Mason here do the IV." He said wanting to see the nurse in action and make sure that he wasn't a total idiot. "So ever worked in a busy trauma department?" He questioned following him into the room.
Mason looked at the attending who looked more like a resident and didn't look old enough to be chief of anything. "Yes I worked up in Chicago Memorial for a couple years after I graduated from nursing school while I got most of my trauma certifications. I also worked as a flight nurse for a year. So what do you prefer 18 or 20 gauge?" He questioned smirking slightly.
Cameron smiled softly as Sebastian took a step back from the nurse. "I told you to give me time, you and I both know that for every good nurse, there are at least two terrible ones. Have you heard Dr. Miller complain about her nursing staff lately? I seem to be hearing her complain more about pregnancy and eating weird crap. I'm trying here do you have any idea how much I've had to clean up?" He questioned the chief watching his hire not wanting Sebastian to turn into a lion and decide to eat his young.
Sebastian glared at the Director. "Are you sure it's because of having decent nurses? Have you thought that maybe Eli has been lecturing her on her stress level and she would rather not stress herself to the point of bed rest? I'll be the judge of him so what if he was a flight nurse. Nurses are idiots until to proven not to be." He said honestly he had yet to meet one nurse that he actually liked. He tolerated Jessica, and respected to Cameron he didn't actually like them. He had the same feeling towards med students and interns. Residents weren't terrible unless they were a trauma resident.
Mason looked at the attending. "Which room needs the IV?" He questioned rolling his eyes figuring it would be best to keep his mouth shut and not tell the attending what he really wanted to say.
Cameron shook his head at Sebastian's words. "Really you think she's nice because of pregnancy? She seemed to be in a good mood when Mason and I ran into her during lunch. I doubt it's because Elijah has told her to watch her stress. She hasn't slowed down a bit since getting pregnant. She hasn't even stopped wearing heels so you tell me that she is listening to the boyfriend or Elijah? You and I both know she will be going to labor at work. I'd be willing to be that she won't take much maternity leave.
Sebastian knew Cameron was right besides Sebastian had known Ashtyn since they were both thirteen and he was there her last pregnancy. The blonde was stubborn. "She's followed the no caffeine rule." He turned his attention back to Mason “we only use 18 down here unless it's a pediatric IV and I'll show you. Fair warning you screw up I'll have you organizing my files for a month, or I'll just feed you to Ashtyn." He threatened the blonde.
Ashtyn walked out of an exam room looking at the nurses and Sebastian. "That's because my daughter works at Starbucks which means if I even walk near it she tells Brandon. Keira is a bloodhound when it comes to coffee anymore. "If I even look at a cup of coffee I get to listen to Brandon worry about our twins. So if anything I'm more irritable and when's the last time you heard that I chucked a nurse out of my OR? It's been a while, you need to get over your nurses hatred. If Cameron has a good feeling then you should too. Stop threatening the sweet nurse, before I have Cameron transfer him over to me. Now come get lunch with me I'm hungry." She pouted having changing out of heels and into a pair of scrubs and sneakers since she had a surgery right after lunch and because her feet were hurting but she wasn’t admitting that to anyone.
Mason followed the attending to the room needing an IV while the attending and director breathed down his neck. He snapped on his gloved found a vein and had the IV in the arm in less than a minute. "What meds do they need?" He asked placing a tagderm over the IV.
Cameron looked impressed at his recent hire and smirked at the chief. "You were saying?" He teased knowing full well Sebastian's department at least had one qualified nurse. "Do you still want Mason out of your department? I'm pretty sure the neuro and cardio ICU's aren't at full capacity.
Sebastian watched the nurse insert the IV like he was a doctor and not a nurse. He was impressed but he wasn't going to give Cameron the satisfaction of admiring that he might have hired a decent nurse this time. "He can stay, but right now I'm hungry and Ashtyn has to eat every five minutes. Page me if you need me." He said linking arms with the blonde he'd been friends with since thirteen.
Ashtyn smiled at the new nurse. "He likes you he just wants to hate you. I think you'll do just fine here at Crawford. Nice work, Cameron." She patted the director shoulder. "Would it kill you to be nice?" She questioned the attending as they walked out the department.
Mason documented the IV and smirked softly at least the neurosurgeon seemed to like him. "So what is up with those two?" He asked since Cameron said she was dating an OB attending and Sebastian wasn't an OB. He liked hospital gossip it made the shift easier.
Cameron looked at Mason. "Those two have been friends since high school, it’s best not to question that relationship, there was speculation that Kiera might have been Sebastian's, but she's not. Be careful of Sebastian he's dated a lot of members of this hospital. He's dated Ashtyn, Elijah, slept with Brandon, and I believe he is currently seeing the neuro resident, Eric. Granted he and Elijah dated in med school, the whole Brandon thing was also med school. He dated Ashtyn in high school so it's not recent it's just ironic how many people he's dated or screwed." He teased warning Mason about Sebastian's dating habits.
Mason laughed at the fact the trauma surgeon had so many ex's around Crawford. "Seriously I mean he and Ashtyn seem like brother and sister, not like they once dated. So let me get this straight you mentioned Brandon was currently dating Ashtyn and she's pregnant with his twins and Sebastian slept with Brandon in medical school. Just one question you haven't slept with Sebastian have you?"
Cameron laughed at the question. "I haven't slept with Sebastian. He's not really my type, he's cute but I don't date doctors. I wouldn't be opposed to dating someone on the nursing staff, but I try and keep my dating outside of the hospital. I honestly don't care who you date just keep it out of work. I didn't tell you how to access the supply of medicine cabinet did I?" He asked thinking he was forgetting something of importance. "Sebastian hasn't done much dating he has five year old to take care of."
Mason was taken aback at the fact Sebastian had children. "I'd ask but I have a feeling you wouldn't tell me about the whole child thing." He said the look Cameron was giving him told him to not ask for more information about that. "I don't think you did tell me how to access the supply and medication room." He said wanting a change of subject.
Cameron was glad Mason didn't question more about the child thing, besides it wasn't exactly public hospital knowledge so he didn't want to tell the newest nurse about that. He'd let Sebastian do it, most of Sebastian's friends knew and the only reason why he knew was the fact Sebastian once told him shortly after he got the director job. "So the supply closet in accessed by sliding your badge through the scanner and the Pyxis login is on the back of your ID, but most nurses just scan their ID with the scanner, I'd hope that you understand how to use one of these from nursing school." He teased after all that was pretty much common knowledge.
Mason smirked softly. "I forgot the whole month I spent moving want to give me a quick update?" He teased being sarcastic sliding his badge and finding the medication Sebastian wanted him to deliver while the attending was on lunch break.
Cameron laughed softly. "No I think those are pretty self-explanatory, everything that Sebastian or another attending is in this supply closet and everything is labeled, since your mainly a trauma nurse you'll be dealing with him and maybe Ashtyn she gets called down the ER quite often as does Jake.
Mason smiled softly making sure the medication was correct and hanging it on the IV pole and attaching it to the line while several nurses sat around and gossiped. He documented the medication and checked on the other patients who had yet to be seen by an ER doc.
Cameron walked over to the circle of nurses. "This doesn't look like nursing, gossip during your breaks you aren't being payed to see how long it takes the new nurse to have a nervous breakdown.
Sebastian waved goodbye to the blonde who had surgery the rest of the day. "So how many patients did you manage to kill?" He asked the nurses what kind of crap he needed to clean up.
Mason laughed and handed over the iPad updating Sebastian on what the patients were up to. "There's a car accident five minutes out." He said as Sebastian looked at him like he was some sort of robot.
Cameron looked up from the paperwork he was doing and smirked at the attending.
Sebastian looked at the detail on the charts, he felt impressed at the new nurse. "Did you prep a trauma bay?" He asked wanting to catch the nurse forgetting to do something.
Mason smirked and pointed to an open trauma bay with everything ready to go. "You were saying." He teased leaning against the desk waiting for the ambulance.
Cameron logged out of his account figuring Sebastian might want an extra nurse that wasn't an idiot. "Close your mouth flies are getting in." He whispered to the attending who looked stunned.
Sebastian glared at the nursing director trying to come up with a retort as the EMT's arrived and Mason was tossing him a pair of gloves without direction as the EMT's rattled off vital signs. "Get an eighteen gauge IV going and have the lines wide open, get me a CT, and have blood and surgery on standby." He barked.
Mason had the IV in on the first shot hanging up the fluid when he felt a hand on his shirt. "She's awake. Hi sweetie can we get your name?" He asked the girl couldn't have been older than twenty. "Does anything hurt?" He questioned as Sebastian shined a pen light in her eyes.
Cameron knew Mason do very well in Sebastian's department he watched the nurse and attending work together and it seems as though Mason had been Sebastian's nurse for years instead of hours, whatever Sebastian asked for Mason already seemed to have it in his hand.
Lily opened her eyes and found herself in a hospital with two cute guys leaning over her. "Where am I?" She croaked out unaware of her surroundings. "Everything hurts." She whined glaring at the bright light in her eyes.
Sebastian smiled softly at the girl on the bed. "You were in a car accident you are now at Crawford. I'm Dr. Cole can I get your name so that one of the nurses can contact your family. Everything hurts, Mason can you get her a CT scan she seems stable enough for transport."
Mason nodded grabbing her hand. "You’re going to be just fine Dr. Cole is great." He whispered unlocking the bed as she muttered out her name and her parents phone number. "Contrast or no contrast?" He questioned before he left the room.
Cameron let out a small yawn figuring he needed more caffeine to make it till seven he looked at his watch noticing it was almost four. "So still hate the new nurse? Want me to transfer him?" He asked helping the nurse clean up the trauma bay.
Sebastian smiled softly to himself as he pulled off his gloves. "One with contrast and one without." He said turning his attention to the nursing director. "You will do no such thing I like this one he's not an idiot. Did you see him I didn't even he have to ask for anything. Nice work Cameron now clone Mason twenty times and I'll be thrilled, every department needs at least one Mason." He said honestly he wouldn't tell the blonde nurse how he felt but the fact Sebastian was complementing him and not wanting him transferred was very telling.
Lily yawned and stared at the man. "Seriously I don't understand why I need a CT I'm fine can't I just go home, seriously doctor I'm fine." She whined as Mason helped her into the machine.
Mason smiled at the brunette. "I'm a nurse and its protocol that we at least get a CT scan on all trauma patients so just hold still and it will be over before you know it." He said going to the observation room.
Cameron smirked at the attending. "I don't think I can clone Mason exactly but I'm sure there are more nurses who aren't completely terrible and I plan on firing several nurses from your department and hopefully by the New Year your department will be better. Ashtyn's department is doing better after replacing about five nurses, I've need to replace a couple in cardio and ortho but that can wait."
Sebastian smiled at the mention of firing a bunch them he needed less dumb nurses he knew Cameron had inherited a terrible nursing staff from the former Director of Nursing. "Ask him on a date." He said seeing the way Cameron looked at Mason.
Mason had the scans sent to the emergency department and took Lily back to the trauma bay. "Scans have been sent." He said to the attending. "I need a cup of coffee want anything?" He asked since the ER was quiet now would be the perfect time for another latte.
Cameron glared at Sebastian he did not like Mason, or so that's what he was telling himself it would be unprofessional to date Mason. "I'm good on coffee." He said to the blonde. "I do not like Mason in that way." He said crossing his arms so what do the scans say?"
Sebastian smiled at the trauma nurse. "A mocha would be fantastic." He said pulling up the scans on the iPad the only wrong is a small concussion and a dislocated shoulder, which an ER doc can fix. Cut the crap I see the way you look at him, besides Cameron when's the last time you got laid. You don't have children what's holding you back. In case you haven't realized we don't really care about not dating co-workers. Ashtyn's dating Brandon, Jessica and Eli are in London getting hitched. I'm seeing Eric, Melissa is engaged to Jake, Kiera is dating Liam. If you like him go for it, what's the worst he going to say no? You and I both know Mason is gay."
Mason walked over to the Starbucks ordering a Mocha for Sebastian and a vanilla latte for himself. Glad that Lily hadn't sustained any serious injuries. He paired the barista and walked back to the trauma department sipping his latte.
Cameron looked at Sebastian realizing the jerk had a point. "Why haven't I come to you for advice before?" He asked since that was actually sound dating advice he was just afraid because his last relationship screwed him over and made him want to not get back to the dating market.
Sebastian heard the radio crack. "Go for Crawford ED." He said listening to the EMT’s. “Alright guys prep bays 1-3 we got a house fire." He barked grabbing Mason you’re with me." He whispered as they rolled in the first patient.
"35 year old possible burned lungs, the kids a lot worse, he's at least stable. We couldn't get an IV into the boy he's got burns covering his arms making it impossible." The EMT said.
Sebastian smirked at the EMT, "nothing is impossible". Alright he's stable transfer him to a basic room he's at least stable with possible smoke inhalation let's let the ER docs treat him. I got the kid." He said seeing the next stretcher and seeing a combative child on it. "Hey sweetie I'm Sebastian mind it if I take a look at your arms." He asked seeing a variety of first to third covering his arms. "Mason can you get an IV?" He asked the nurse smiling softly.
Mason looked at the boy. "Yes but I'm not going through the arms. Would you prefer external jugular, foot, or IO We could probably get a central line in. If you want my opinion I'd go with the external." He answered honestly remembering a case similar when he was flight nurse.
Cameron grabbed the burn cream and some gauze. "I too would go for the external, Mason can you get it?" He asked figuring as a flight nurse he had done several.
Sebastian smiled at the blonde nurse. "Nice work. You want to do it or shall I?" He asked winking at Cameron giving the director his approval which was very hard to get. "After you get the IV get fluid going rapidly and push some morphine and makes sure there is an OR those burns need to be debreeded and he might need a graft.
Mason looked at the attending. "Sixteen please." He said bending down to the child's level. "Hey I'm Mason I'm a nurse, your arms are burned and we can't get an IV in which is used to get fluids and medication into your body which are vital. I need you to relax and take deep breaths. He said finding the external jugular easy enough. "Take a deep breath in, don't hold your breath that only makes it hurt worse." He said nicely knowing that he wouldn't be too happy with a needle going into his neck either. He adjusted the angle of the bed and bent down cleaning the area. "Big stick alright." He warned getting it on the first shot and connecting the tubing.
Cameron helped Sebastian wrap his arms with gauze and cream to help the pain why they transferred him over to the OR. His phone beeped seeing a trauma nurse was sick and couldn't make the night shift. "Mason I know it's your first shift and all and I really hate to do this to you, but would you mind working a double I had a nurse text in sick."
Sebastian knew he was almost twelve hours into a twenty-four hour shift. "I'm still here for another twelve, why don't I go update the father and I'll meet you in surgery." He suggested heading off towards the room the father was in.
Mason filled out the report. "Sure anything to put off unpacking, however I'll only do it on one condition, you and I get dinner sometime and yes this is me asking you out." He said not caring that Cameron was the Director of Nursing and technically his main boss.
Cameron looked at Mason wide-eyed. "I was just about ready to ask you out and you beat me to the punch. Dinner sounds wonderful just text me I'm never far from the phone. My shift is over don't be afraid to call if Sebastian turns into a douche." He said heading back to the administrative wing.
Sebastian saw the nurses in the doorframe he always did like playing Cupid and he figured Mason would be good for Cameron, he couldn't remember the last time he saw the nursing director have a date. "Now if you two are finished with the pathetic flirting Mason and I are needed in an OR. Goodnight Cameron." He said smirking slightly. "FYI that will be the latest nursing drama. I have to give you props I've seen interns scared of the external jugular you handled that like a seasoned pro. I'm glad your here at Crawford so why not med school you have nerves of steel and your obviously not dumb. So why nursing?" He asked clasping the blonde's shoulder.
Mason followed the attending to the surgical wing. "I'm not pathetic at flirting, and like I give a damn they already think I'm a know-it-all hired by Cameron to let him know which ones need to be fired. Do you think I care if they think I'm sleeping with him. Come on who wouldn't ask him out?" He said feeling comfortable around the attending. "I was a flight nurse I'm not afraid of IV's I've seen some things as a flight nurse and I am ever so grateful to be back on land. My mother is a nurse and she raised me without a husband or boyfriend she made me want to be a nurse. I had good enough grades to do whatever I wanted. I actually did consider med school or getting an advanced degree in either CRNA or maybe even a nurse practitioner.
Sebastian knew the whole single parent thing quite well. "Well then that lady raised one hell of a nurse. Please don't become a nurse practitioner I can't stand nurse practitioner's." He said hating nurse practitioners with a fiery passion so much so that basic ER doctor's ranked higher on that list and he also couldn't stand them either. "I know flight nurses see some terrible things however I can tell your time in the air made you a better trauma nurse.”EMT's are permitted to do external IV's but they normally leave that for us same goes for the IO IV. Come on let's go debreed those burns. I don't think they are serious enough for a skin graft.
Mason shook his head. "What do you have against nurse practitioners?" He questioned figuring it was a dumb reason. "Trust me I've seen some interesting stuff as a flight nurse, you can't doubt your abilities especially if your thirty minutes away from a trauma hospital. I liked it but I'd rather be a hospital nurse it's a little less stressful." He said completely honest he'd honestly work in a hospital.
Sebastian slid his badge into the door which was the way to surgery. "Most of the NP's I've met think they are doctors, like no honey your still a nurse who can write prescriptions and I wouldn't trust your medical decision if it was only a blister on my foot. They say medical personal make the worst patients I'd probably be terrible and try to direct them." He teased the nurse as he wanted down a hallway with tons of shelves with prepackaged surgical packs most of them either trauma, cardio, or neuro related.
Mason laughed at the whole NP's thinking they are doctors. "I've met a couple of those back in Chicago a nurse practitioner tried taking over for a doctor that didn't go over so well. "I happy with being a trauma nurse there is nothing better than the adrenaline rush that goes along with it."
Sebastian placed a mask over his face and tied it and placed on safety glasses over his eyes. "Should have went to med school, you'd be a great trauma resident by now. You what 25 you could always go back to school." He suggested putting shoe covers over his sneakers and scrubbing in for surgery.
Mason laughed softly at the 25 comment. "I wish I was 25 I'm almost 28 so if I were to apply to medical school I'd be 31 which is attending age not the age of an attending don't get me started on tuition if I were to go anything I'd get my masters of science in nursing which is easily done while working. I'm not the med school type either I like being a nurse. You're what 32?" He questioned.
Sebastian smirked at Mason getting his age right. "Yes I'm 32 and I've been an attending for a couple years, still 27 is far from old if you want med school go to med school there are all kinds of scholarships why do you think I don't have to worry about loans and I have a house on the beach? Scholarships some hospitals offer scholarships for nurses wanting to go back to school. I'm not 100% sure on that though. I'm just saying you'd be a fantastic trauma resident if you ever decided to go back to school. Don't let age hold you back."
Mason sighed under his mask listening to Sebastian try and pitch him. "I like being a nurse, but thanks for thinking that I'd be a great trauma doc. Now how about we focus on the task at hand and not why I went to nursing school over medical school. Trust me I don't want to be a doctor." He said scrubbing in for surgery.
Sebastian walked through the automatic doors into the OR suite. "Just thought you might like to know in case you get sick of working with airheads for nurses. He said letting the nurse tie up the gown as he slid his hands into the gloves. "Alright scalpel please." He said examining the burns finding a couple unburned places.
Mason handed the attending the scalpel helping out when he could. "Poor kid these burns will take a while to heel at least with debreeding he will have only minimal scaring." He said to no one in particular.
Sebastian looked at the nurse. "I guess you don't know me that well he won't have any scaring once I'm finished, I also did a small residency in plastics so no scars. Don't doubt me kid." He winked removing the burned layers of skin the good thing was that it didn't hit nerves or deep tissue. "He's lucky it didn't burn to the deep tissues. He'll be fine with medication, observation, and fluids. Mason call up to the burn unit it's no longer a trauma case." He instructed watching the nurse call the burn unit. "I could go for coffee what about you Mason?" He asked yawning behind his mask.
Mason pulled off his gloves and mask. "I'm always in the mood for coffee." He said pulling of the surgical gown off in the scrub room and placing his watch back onto his wrist. "I'll meet you at Starbucks I need a short bathroom break."
Sebastian laughed and pulled off his gloves, mask, shoe covers, and gown. "Sure take a break lord knows you need one after all your like three nurses in one." He teased walking towards Starbucks seeing Kiera talking with her mother. "Evening ladies."
Kiera smiled at Sebastian dressed for her Starbucks shift. "Cheer practice was absolute hell." She whined the muscles in her back protested every time she moved.
Ashtyn knew the summer practices were in full swing which meant her daughter was suffering through the whole your not on the team until the first competition since the all star gym was one of the best in the country. "Are you alright sweetheart?" She asked watching her daughter wince. "Need some Advil?"
Sebastian also looked at Kiera weirdly when she winced. "Did you hurt yourself, or it just sore muscles." He asked placing a hand on her forehead checking for her temp.
Mason adjusted the stethoscope around his neck and made his way back to the Starbucks yawning softly. "I would have thought you went home." He said to the neurosurgeon.
Kiera pulled away from Sebastian and her mother. "I'm fine I'm just sore I did have two weeks of from cheerleading after Worlds and tryouts I just don't want to slack off and be replaced my spot is never secure there is always someone with better tumbling skills, a better flyer, and a better dancer. I might have my full to whip doubles and have some great passes but all that it takes is one day of sleeping through practice and I find myself on a medium team and not a small coed team. I want this to be our fifth World's title in a row, so back off and of course I need Advil I'm going to be on my feet until five am making coffee. Thank god it's only a summer job to help pay for cheerleading. I couldn't go to school, cheer full time, go to work, and have a relationship. I honestly can't remember the last time Liam and I had a date with him worried about medical school. I'm just tired and sore." She said taking to Advil and putting the apron over her clothes. "Your usual Sebastian?" She asked noticing the nurse standing in the doorway. "Did they finally give you something to torture?" She asked giggling softly to herself.
Ashtyn let go of her daughter's wrist it was just the whole heart condition still had her worried even if that was a couple years ago and no matter how many times Jake assured her that Kiera was fine she still worried. "Are your its not your heart acting up again?" She questioned looking at the nurse. "I don't get to spend much time with Kiera and it's only nine pm I actually just got out of a surgery. Don't worry about me I already Sebastian, Brandon, Elijah, and Keira I don't need Sebastian's nurse watching out for me too. I'm pregnant and it's not my first. Oh I heard you asked Cameron out on a date, good he needs someone."
Sebastian yawned as Kiera walked away. "We're doctors we worry about our young. Sure you feel fine no skipped beats, what about pain in your chest." He asked worried about his second daughter who technically wasn't his child.
Mason nodded at the neurosurgeon as she bit off his head. "I'm sorry it's just I'm used to worrying about people.” He told the neurosurgeon not meaning to offend her.
Kiera glared at the her mother and Sebastian. "I'm fine no skipped beats no chest pain. Thar was two years ago leave me alone about that. "Jake says I'm fine I've never had a problem since the surgery. He's still letting me cheer so please get off my case. I'm Kiera and everyone around here seems to worry about everyone. You must be new, welcome to Crawford you'll find me here making coffee."
Ashtyn crossed her arms smelling the expresso. "God I miss coffee." She whined glaring at the attending and nurse who could drink coffee to their hearts content. he huffed as Kiera handed her a cup of tea. "Nice try you and I both know this is tea."
Sebastian wrapped his arms around Ashtyn. "It will all be over soon in about a week you'll be in London for a week with Kiera and Brandon and then you'll come back be around 24 weeks and Elijah said something about inducing you didn't he?"
Kiera smiled at the new nurse. "I'm sorry about Sebastian he can kind of be a bit mean to nurses and I forgot we were going to London soon, I have a week off from work that'll be nice. Sorry mother you and I both know Elijah banned you from caffeine before he left for his vacation. So I'm not enabling besides this a hospital you’re not getting away with anything. I have an appointment with Jake coming up so get off my heart for goodness sakes I'm fine. Mason would you mind taking my heart rate to get these two doctors off my back. They don't believe I'm fine and I had like a hole in my heart when I was thirteen and now they both get this way when I complain I'm tired."
Mason took a small sip of coffee. "Sure have a seat and hand me your wrist, please. I don't blame them she's your mother even with medical training she'd worry about the sniffles and the heart is a vital organ. Can you hand me your wrist?" He asked gently feeling for her radial artery counting her pulse rate for a minute. "Would you two relax her pulse is 83 perfectly normal for someone her age. I don't have kids but I do have a sister I was protective over and I know it's not really any of my business but relax you two."
Ashtyn sipped the tea dreaming that it was a caramel macchiato but it wasn't it was green tea lacking taste and caffeine. "That still seems a bit high to me but then again I'm tired so I'm not on top of my game. Have a good shift tonight sweetheart." She hugged her daughter and patting Mason's shoulder. "Thanks I sometimes go into mommy overdrive doesn't help all the hormones coursing through me at the moment. Don't disappoint us and turn out to be a dodo bird, they went extent for a reason." She went to Sebastian have a good shift in going to go home and put my feet up and get started on the piece I need to write for a medical journal. Night guys don't work too hard." She teased walking out of Starbucks still in her pink scrubs.
Sebastian felt his pager buzz noticing Mason doing the same. "Come on kid we got a trauma to attend to." He said running the short distance to the trauma department. "What's going on?" He asked seeing a guy with a metal pole sticking through his neck and coming out around the spleen with the guy alert and talking. "Hi I'm Dr. Cole the attending trauma surgeon on duty want to tell me how you have a pole sticking through you.
Mason looked like an owl his eyes were so wide. "What do you want me to do?" He asked listening to the man explain that he was at a strip club and the pole broke and impaled him.
Sebastian bit his lip to keep from laughing as that would be unprofessional and highly inappropriate. "Alright we'll get you fixed up. One of you call maintenance. Mason get an IV, CBC, CMP, ABG, and push Morphine and have fluid going in at a rapid rate oh and have surgery ready to go."
Mason smiled at the guy getting the necessary supplies. "Makes for an interesting story, we've seen poles impaled before, just another day at the office for us. I'm going to need an arm so I can get some lab work and get an IV really easy stuff." He said snapping on the gloves looking for a good vein in the upper arm.
Sebastian walked out of the room snickering under his breath at the whole strip club pole he had dealt with poles before but never a story nearly as rich as that. "Yes it's just another day in the office for us, what would you say your pain level is?" He asked having composed himself out in the hall. It reminded him of the stories in residency of foreign objects in the rectum those excuses made 24 and 48 hour shifts less painful. "How is your pain level a one if I were you I'd be screaming?" He said honestly.
Mason collected the vials of blood after getting the IV into the arm he was feeling that double shift slump that not even coffee could cure. "I'm exhausted." He said taking the blonde to the lab wanting to do nothing more than to sleep all day tomorrow.
Sebastian walked out of the room. "I know the feeling just stay active it's hard to fall asleep while you are being active. The good news is that after we remove the pole it should be time for us to be getting off. 24 hour shifts are nothing to sneeze at. I feel sorry for residents and interns who have the 48 hour shifts. "Do you need a Monster or something to get through the rest of the shift. "Its hour 20 you just got to make it five more hours. Can we please talk about how one manages to get a stripper pole lodged thought their body and arrives at a hospital awake and alert with a pain level of one. I'm worried the pole might have nicked the heart, jugular, and possibly the spleen or liver. It entered at an angle I'd say it went in through the neck and exited around the spleen and might have caused massive damage on the inside. You seemed cool with the whole pole in side normally nurses are laughing or throwing up."
Mason smiled softly. "I've seen poles, trees, and other things stuck in people back in Chicago I saw an golf club lodged in someone's head, and I've also seen a ice pack lodge in someone's ear. The pole is just another day at the office." He teased nothing about nursing was just another day. "So I guess we'll have to be careful removing the pole, I'll go ahead and book an OR and maintenance is on their way." He rattled off trying to fight the slump.
Sebastian snapped his fingers in front of the nurse. "Come on wake up, you got to fight it. You aren't used to night shift are you?" He asked being nice to the blonde normally he would be snappy. "Golf clubs I don't think I've ever seen a golf club lodged in someone's head, did they make it both golf club and ice pick?" He asked curious he too was feeling the nap feeling it was common this time during a 24 hour.
Mason looked at the attending wondering why he wasn't yelling after all he was half asleep on his feet. "Both of them made it actually the ice pick almost was like a millimeter from the brain. Who knows maybe we'll get lucky at there won't be anything wrong with strip club pole guy." He teased.
Sebastian laughed at Mason's words. "That would be very nice if there wasn't nothing wrong but he still needs surgery to remove the pole but first I'd like a CT scan after maintenance shortens the pole. It's always better to have a map."
Mason nodded seeing a guy in the maintenance uniform. "Room two we need to trim the pole so that he can fit in a CT scan." He said covering up a yawn.
Sebastian glared softly at the nurse. "Stay awake I need you." He said following maintenance into the room not trusting anyone without a medical degree of some kind. "Be careful around the neck its right next to the jugular and carotid, I'm not so worried about the bottom of the pole." He said watching the man snap of both ends of the pole leaving a little bit sticking out. "Mason get me the CT and me meet me in surgery and bring some coffee." He said heading off to surgery.
Mason took the man for a complete CT and had him transported over to surgery and made his way to Starbucks. He got the cup of coffee and downed his on the way to surgery. He slid his badge once he got to the surgery doors and found Sebastian easy enough. "Your coffee." He said putting a scrub cap over his blonde hair and getting all the other protective equipment needed.
Sebastian downed his coffee and pitched it. "Alright let's go remove the pole I also had maintenance file down the end, I want think a laparotomy will be good enough but I also have a thoracotomy tray on stand-bye I hope we don't end up needed it."
Mason nodded the coffee taking care of the sleeping feeling. "You’re the attending I'm only the nurse who hands you tools." He said honestly.
Sebastian smiled under his mask. "I'm bouncing ideas off of you, I know exactly what you are. You’re a nurse who should have went to medical school such a disappointment." He teased winking at the nurse meaning he wasn't actually a disappointment. "Let's go remove a stripper pole."
Mason followed the attending into the OR handing him a scalpel. "Six words no one would they would ever here in a hospital. Let’s remove the stripper pole." He said helping Sebastian with the pole.
Sebastian made the incision seeing the pole in front of all the vital organs, well isn’t he lucky, that makes my life easier.” He teased pushing the pole out the other end. Shit, suction.” He yelled the pole nicking the liver on the way out. I spoke to soon, I see a kidney bleed too.” He sighed the surgery did however make him feel more awake with the adrenaline coursing through of him. “Still feeling tired?”
Mason grabbed the suction. “It almost looks as though there is small laceration on the spleen too.” He pointed out with the suction. “Nope wide awake, but that will probably change after the surgery is fine and we come down from the rush. He looked at the clock. “Good news is we are off in two hours, we just need to finish this surgery and finish paperwork, and I have a report to get through.” He said wishing to skip report and find himself back in his bed he would probably try and take a small nap and get some unpacking done.
Sebastian stitched up the liver lac and saw the spleen lac the nurse was talking about. “Good eye.” He said listening to Mason tell him there were only two more hours until he could go home and sleep or at least try and sleep the 24 hour shifts screwed up his sleep schedule.
Mason helped Sebastian with the surgery knowing it was getting close to time off, he didn’t notice any other lacerations in the organs.
Sebastian closed him up. “He’s ready to be transported.” He said pulling off his gloves and gown. “Alright let’s go do some paperwork, we only have another hour. I don’t hate working with you and I’m realizing not all nurses aren’t complete idiots. FYI that was a complement.”
Mason smiled slightly. “I was expecting you to be a dick, I mean you kind of are, but I kind of understand why after working in your department do some of these nurses even have their RN or BSN?” He asked sitting down at the nurse’s station to do his paperwork to go over during shift change. “Mind signing this for me?” He asked handing the attending the piece of paper.
Sebastian clicked his pen and signed it not even bother to read it, probably something to do with the external IV the nurse had to put in on the burn kid who was doing much better in the burn unit. He noticed another trauma waiting to do surgery. “Why do you want to wait to do surgery, have you not heard of the golden hour before? We are trauma surgeon’s if it’s traumatic in any way, shape, or form we get the case. Hand me the chart.” He demanded reading over the chart. “That needs surgery like yesterday, do you want to lose your residency here at Crawford, another screw up like that and you’ll be finding yourself a new residency. I don’t play around if they are hemodynamically unstable get them to surgery.” He said yelling at the resident even if he was tired he still knew better than to sit and wait it out.
Mason listened to the attending scream glad he wasn’t aimed at him. He finished up his nursing reports seeing the new nurses arrive to the department and gave his report. He walked to the lockers to change out of his scrubs and shove everything else in his locker, he redressed clipping his badge to his belt so he wouldn’t forget it since he needed it to get into the locker room. He walked out of the hospital feeling the warm California air.
Cameron was walking into Crawford as Mason was walking out. “I am so sorry about making you work a double, but I see Sebastian didn’t kill you so that’s always a good thing, so how’d you enjoy your shift?” He asked knowing doubles were hell but the blonde didn’t even look tired.
Mason yawned slightly knowing he needed to find a bed and fast. “No big deal and working with Sebastian went well we actually just got out of surgery there was a dude who had a stripper pole impale him. I hate to do this but I am super tired and I want to sleep, I’ll text you when I wake up.” He said walking off towards his apartment close to the hospital.
Cameron smiled knowing he was probably pretty tired. “That sounds interesting. I’ll talk to you later to iron out details for our date. Go get some sleep looks like you need it.” He said walking to his office seeing Sebastian leaning against the door. “Seriously don’t you have somewhere else to be, what did Mason do?” He asked wondering why an attending was leaning against his door.
Sebastian smirked at the director. “Morning Cameron, sleep well?” He asked. “Thank you for Mason, he was doing well until halfway through the double, but then again I can’t really speak I too feel into the double shift slump last night. He’s a fantastic nurse, really detailed oriented. I leave you alone I just figured I’d be not such an ass for once. I need sleep I’ll see you my next shift, oh and enjoy your date with Mason.
Mason unlocked his apartment tossing off his tie and dress shoes completely exhausted. There was a big difference between Los Angeles and Chicago. He collapsed on his bed too exhausted to change into a pair of pajamas.